The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 21

Meanwhile, at Boutique Street.

Thud, thud.

There was a man strutting down the street wearing a somewhat old-fashioned suit and even sunglasses.

Shiny, gleaming shoes. A bowler hat that looked brand new.

With an appearance that could truly be called the epitome of a gentleman, ladies stopped in their tracks to stare at him.

“My goodness, who is that man?”

“Oh my.”

“I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere before…”

The man walking down the street moved with confidence.

A devilishly charming man who accepted the gazes with familiarity, as if he’d experienced this countless times.

Yes, the place that man was heading to was none other than…

“I really thought I was going to die, Owner.”

The devilishly charming man, Chris, said as he took off his sunglasses.

I paused at his word choice, befitting a former thug, then looked at the auction house staff entering behind him and said.

“Yeah, good work.”

Today was the day Chris was supposed to acquire the ‘painting to hang in the boutique’ that he had been advocating for.

Chris, who had returned after completing his mission, looked like someone who had clearly made an effort to dress up.

Diana behind him was wearing a cute dress like a ‘refined young lady about to make her debut,’ complete with a bonnet.

‘They both look quite fitting.’

Painting auctions usually attract wealthy magnates and nobles who have handled some money.

And I was someone who absolutely couldn’t stand seeing my people being looked down upon anywhere.

So before Chris and Diana went to the auction house, I personally dressed them up to look like members of high society.

The two commoners who had experienced being nobles for a day had just returned.

“No, I’m not making a fuss just because I went there and came back.”

Unlike Diana, who looked pleased, probably because she was dressed up like a precious young lady, Chris looked haggard.

“Do you know who was at the auction house? Viscount Shartinez’s Daughter was there. She was making a huge fuss about opening some incredibly fancy and pretty boutique, just…”

At the mention of Seria, I recalled the rumors I’d heard this morning.

Seria had purchased the land where my aunt’s villa was located at ten times the market price. It was thanks to my aunt, who had received my letter and stubbornly refused to sell, standing firm like an iron wall.

And recently, Seria, who had acknowledged that there was no possibility of Ranghilden’s revival, had come to Tererrosa’s Boutique Street.

It seemed she had moved the boutique she was planning to open in Ranghilden to this side.

“Even though I was dressed up like this, that young lady recognized me? Every time I raised my paddle, she would double the price, and wow, I shed some tears from the frustration.”

Chris went on complaining that there had been many incidents.

I listened to Chris’s story and gave a brief reply.

“Fine, anyway you bought the painting well.”

“Yes, that one. I worked hard at the psychological warfare and barely managed to get it.”

Chris pointed to the painting that had been placed in a luxurious frame.

“Ugh, having to sit still the whole time was honestly uncomfortable too.”

Chris threw off his gloves. His hands were damp, probably from sweating.

“A lowlife who grew up in back alleys can’t handle playing gentleman.”

“Hehe, then I must be destined for the life of a precious young lady.”

Diana, who had approached at some point, smiled and spun around gracefully. She seemed quite fond of the dress.

After the auction house staff left, I examined the painting closely.

“Hmm.”

It was a landscape painting with fresh colors and red flowers as accent points here and there.

Even if it wasn’t a masterpiece that might appear once in a century, it was a painting that went well with the boutique.

‘Chris unexpectedly has good taste for this kind of thing.’

Who would have known that a con artist who used to seduce naive young ladies would have such talent.

‘…What’s that?’

Then something caught my eye in the lower left corner of the painting, a small mark.

It looked like someone had painted over a part where a short phrase was written.

I frowned and turned my head this way and that to examine the writing.

When I reflected it in the light from various angles, I could roughly make it out.

‘Your…’

[ Congratulations on your marriage -J- ]

…What is this phrase that clearly seems to have an incredible story behind it.

‘What kind of painting did that guy buy? Didn’t he even check it?’

But Chris’s reaction was different from what I expected.

Chris approached with a sly smile.

“Ah, that. I guess I need to tell you about my secret strategy again.”

It seemed he already knew about these traces on the painting.

“Now, speaking of this painting…”

Chris suddenly made sobbing sounds.

“This is the final work left by an artist who received a terminal diagnosis after hearing news of a friend’s marriage. After sending this painting to congratulate the marriage of a friend who was also a man he once admired, he sadly ended his life. …I plan to stimulate emotions by becoming a daily docent and sharing this story with the young ladies.”

When his hand stopped rubbing his eyelids, the smooth face of a con artist was revealed.

Diana and I each reacted like this to hearing about his “secret strategy”:

“Do you want to use someone else’s painting that might contain unknown stories like that? You’ll go to hell living like that.”

“Owner, should I go to the Security Bureau right now and report this future con artist?”

Then Chris let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Everyone doesn’t appreciate my winning strategy. This way, the young ladies will definitely visit frequently just to see the painting, right? Then sales will keep going up…!”

His smooth voice was cut short when an unexpected intruder we didn’t even know was there shouted sharply.

“You…!”

What a surprise. I reflexively turned my head and then froze.

It was a familiar face.

My Academy classmate and owner of the rival boutique ‘Anne White,’ Judithe White.

“…”

Getting involved would obviously only lead to troublesome situations.

I pretended not to see and started walking away.

“Where are you going! Stop right there! Where do you think you’re going!”

Then Judithe chased after me with an angry face.

“Maryyyyy!”

Finally, when my name was called and the situation became unavoidable, I sighed and turned around.

“What.”

“…Huh?”

She seemed surprised that I actually responded after calling me herself.

“I asked why you called me.”

When I asked again, Judithe cleared her throat and asked sharply.

“Have you completely left your boutique to Chris Moore these days? Why are you never there when I come?”

“I must have been busy.”

“I heard you were selling bread outside?”

“…No, I said I was busy.”

This girl is exactly the same as a year ago.

I corrected her with a coldly hardened expression.

“Why? Oh, because of the child?”

“Yes.”

“I see… so you really have… a child…”

Judithe mumbled and trailed off.

How shameless could I be, wasn’t I just trying to connect with a prestigious family, was I really the Colonel’s child… I expected all sorts of nonsense to come out, but it was surprisingly quiet, which puzzled me.

‘She’s been acting so tiresome since way back.’

Actually, until my first year at the Academy, my relationship with Yudite wasn’t bad.

That is, until that crazy bastard Aldein Karziel, the senior Yudite had a crush on, publicly confessed to me.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Mary. Who would ever like someone like you?”

That day, our friendship was shattered.

Actually, it would be more accurate to say my entire Academy life was shattered rather than just our friendship.

As if dragging me behind the main building and screaming at me wasn’t enough to vent her anger, persistent bullying continued from that day on.

‘The Marquis house ran a large trading company, so Yudite had many friends regardless of grade level.’

Whispering meaningfully with classmates where I could see, spreading malicious rumors, occasionally approaching me just to be irritable… that kind of bullying.

‘Well, thinking about it now, they were petty acts.’

The bad blood that started at the Academy had continued to this day under the name ‘Rival Boutique.’

“You’re not pretty, your personality sucks, and you’re so insignificant it’s embarrassing to call you a fellow noble – who would ever like you!”

As soon as Yudite’s voice from the past echoed in my head, the voice of Yudite in front of me followed.

“Whatever, Mary Blin. You better brace yourself. Just because you’re living at the Viscount’s Mansion now, do you think I’ll bat an eye?”

…What is she saying.

Instead of answering, I looked at Yudite with incredulous eyes.

But Yudite didn’t care and even snorted triumphantly before scurrying away.

If she was going to disappear like this, I wondered why she even came all the way here – what a peculiar rival indeed.

***

That evening, at the Viscount’s Mansion dining room.

“….”

I diligently worked my knife. In a very silent atmosphere.

‘I never thought I’d end up having dinner with Lady Sophia too.’

So, how did I end up dining face-to-face with Sophia?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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